The day before Australian Ageing Agenda spoke with new Assistant Minister for Ageing Kate Thwaites – the long-awaited new Aged Care Act had landed at parliament’s door.
“It’s significant legislation and it will mean that older people can enter aged care feeling secure that the system is sustainable,” Thwaites says.
Under the Act – one of the most meaningful sector reforms in decades and a key recommendation of the Aged Care Taskforce – individuals with means will be required to contribute more to non-care costs, such as everyday living and independent supports in home care and accommodation and hospitality services in residential care.
As well as introducing a new user-pay model to raise additional funding, the Act is very much focused on protecting the human rights of the older person.
“We know from the work that the government has done with the Aged Care Taskforce that older people want to make sure that, when it is time for them to enter aged care, their rights are respected,” says Thwaites – the Labor federal member for the Melbourne electorate of Jagajaga, a seat she has held since 2019.
I want to make sure that we are helping older Australians
The Act will also better support older Australians to age at home, a common desire among many of Thwaites’ constituents. “I know from talking to many older Australians that they see aged care as something they hope not to access,” she says. “They would like as much as possible to age in their home – so that’s also part of these reforms.”
Before entering politics, Thwaites was a journo who for six years worked for the national broadcaster ABC. “When I started as a journalist I got to do fantastic work talking about the work governments were doing and holding governments to account.”
But, as Thwaites tells AAA “I got to the point where I was thinking, ‘What would it be like if I was one of the people who was trying to create the change and move our country forward and make sure that it is a place where everyone is valued and leads the life they want to lead.’”
Thwaites’ first foray into federal politics was through her predecessor and mentor Jenny Macklin – a former cabinet minister from 2007 to 2010 – whom she worked for as an adviser.
“I worked for her during the Gillard government years, and I saw at very close range what it looked like when a Labor government introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme, when we introduced parental leave for women. When the opportunity came to stand for parliament, it was like ‘Well, these are all things that I think are important, I should get in there and have a go.’”
The newly created role of Assistant Minister for Ageing – Thwaites’ first ministerial appointment – is an opportunity to do just that.
“It’s very exciting,” Thwaites says. “It’s a new role for government that’s recognising the value that older Australians bring to our country.”
You only have to hear Thwaites talk to realise she is taking her new responsibilities seriously. “I want to make sure that we are helping older Australians … that they feel like they are able to age securely in the way that they want to, so I’m pleased to have this role.”
While Thwaites is aware “how important it is for older Australians that aged care works for them” – she tells AAA that ageing is about much more than that.
Older Australians also want to feel financially secure. “The number one issue that people are facing is cost of living and certainly that is something that I’m very aware of and the government is very aware of,” she says.
“Older Australians have worked hard all their lives, they deserve to know that as they approach the end of their life they are going to be secure and have a good retirement.”
Thwaites adds: “I’m particularly aware that for people on a fixed income – such as the pension or other income support payments – that every dollar counts. We will continue to put a focus on cost-of-living relief and also making sure that older Australians do feel heard within government and within our community more broadly and do feel like they have a champion in me for their concerns.”
There is a benefit to us all as a community when older people are still working
During the first few months in her new role Thwaites has been busy meeting with various advocacy organisations such as National Seniors, COTA Australia and the Older Person’s Advocacy Network – “all groups that do wonderful work supporting older Australians”.
Among the topics discussed: ensuring older people are digitally connected to the outside world.
“One of the things that can feel most challenging for them is the fact that so much of life is now lived online. If you haven’t done that for most of your life, there are barriers there,” Thwaites says.
Another topic of conversation: strategies to help older Australian remain in the workplace.
“Maybe doing a bit of work here and there – not just for the economic benefits of it – but also for the connections it gives you. There is a benefit to us all as a community when older people are still working.”
It’s also about enabling older Australians to continue to feel valued and appreciated, Thwaites says. “They still want to be involved, they want to be able to lead independent lives.”
However, all-too-often ageism stands in the way. Thwaites – a working parent with two young children – tells AAA that, as a community, we probably don’t value older people as much as we should.
“Individually we all do. We can all think of older people in our lives who we absolutely rely on – I know in my life my kids get so much out of the time they spend with their grandparents. But, collectively, as a community, I do know that older people feel they come up against ageism in the workplace, in their everyday interactions.”
As Thwaites acknowledges, this can be tough for people who, for most of their lives, have been self-reliant and happily managing their own affairs.
“They suddenly feel like the world is treating them as someone who doesn’t have any agency or capability,” she says. “As a community we have to get a lot better at recognising that older people have done a really good job at running their own lives, that they do have agency and capability. I see part of this role as me being that champion for older people to make sure that they are getting the prominence and the recognition that they should have.”
There’s that descriptor again: “champion”. Rather than a cheesy aside, you get a real sense that Thwaites means what she says – and means business. “So much as possible I will be supporting older Australians to live the lives they want to lead.”
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